Retarding chamber for automatic sprinkler systems



Aug. 7, 1928.

J. E. EVANS ET AL RETARDING CHAMBER FOR AUTOMATIC SPINKLER SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 30. 1922 2 Sheets-Shea?l Fig.L 1

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J. E. EVANS ET AL RETARDING CHAMBER FOR AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 30. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors.

John Edward Evans Froncls H. Griffwhs Patented ug. 7, l 1928.

UNITEDl STATES JOHN EDWARD EVANS. 0E NEWYYORK,

PATENT orties.v

Alvin renners HERBERT Gnrrrrrns, or

YONKERS, NEW YORK,4 ASSIGNORS TOA THE' RELIABLE AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER C0. INC., OFNEW YORK, N. Ya, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RETARDING CHAMBER FOR AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.l

Application led August 30, 1922. Serial No. 585,244.

This'invention. relates to that portion ot an automatic sprinkler system Which isfcommonly referred tol` as the retarding chamber. These ret-arding chambers are-used in convnection With the alarm mechanismand its controlling valve and they have for their vpurpose to retard the action ofthe alarm mechanism. so that it will not operate upon a momentary or temporary unseating of `the main check valve but only when the same check valve isopen to permit continuous flow therethrough. i

Among the4 features 4of the-'present invention are the provision of a normally-closed passage leading directly Jfrom the valarm valve to the. alarmV mechanism, V,but having av restricted communication with the retarding chamber and means. operated by fluid under pressure `in the retarding chamber to open said passage to allon7 free flow of fluid to the alarm mechanism. One `Aadvantage ot this construction is that when the passage is openthe Water for actuating the alarm loWs directly thereto from the alarm valve Withy out .passing through. the retard-ing chamber and, therefore, a morewdirect and positive operation of the alarm mechanism is provided for. i Y

"Another feature of our invention relates to the provision ofia supply chamber Within the retarding chamber which -iswconnected to the alarm mechanism and also has a communication .independent of the retardingr chamber With the alarm mechanism, said supply chamberrhaving a continuously-open restricted communication With the retarding chamber, together withv a valve for closing the passage which is controlled by the fluid under pressurein the retard-ingr chamber.

VStillanother feature of our invention relates to the manner of closing an, electric circuit by `fluid under pressure in saidretardingV chamber for the -purpo'seolA operating an electrical alarm or other similar device. i Y

4Still another featurev of the inventionrelates to al novel construction for assisting in draining the 'retardingchamben `Other features ot theinvention will be, more -fully hereinafter set forth and then pointed out in the appended claims'. l i

In order to rive an understanding of. our inventia we ,tiene illustrated inthe draw:

Vings. a selected embodiment thereofrvvhich `Will noW be described after Which the novel features Will be pointed out in the appended claims. i

y Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through a retarding chamber embodying),` our invenion; i

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. l.

In the drawings l indicates the retarding chamber, 2 indicates a pipe connection which leads to the alarm valve Which may be associated with a main check valve inl the sprinkler system said alarm valve and main valve not being shown herein asvthey form no part of the present invention and may be ot'any approvedconstruction), and 3 indicates a pipe connection leading`V to the alarm mechanism .v (the, latter also being charge pipe 3V through a passage that is normally closedby a valve 5. In the present l embodiment of the inventionlthisA passage comprises a pipe section 6 communicating with and leading from the supply chamber 4' andthe upper end of Which constitutes a valve seat for the valve 5, said valve being heldl `against its seat by the spring` 28, and it also includes Vachamber surrounding the Vdischarge end ot the pipe section and communicating with `the pipe section 3 through a duct 8. The Walls of the chamber 7 are shown as madev of an expansible bellows-like structure 20, the lower end of which is connectefd to the member 21 through which the duct. 8 isf formed andthe upper end ofwhich is conneetedvto a disk22 that in turn is secured to the stem23. of the valve 5.

The supply'chamber 4c is in communication tardinpj chamber 1, throught wat are restricted. ,e

ce 9,- tlie latter eens stantly open. This restricted orifice is shown 'formed in a `fitting 10 that is located at the inner end of the supplychamber fl, said fitting having a box-like structure having ports 11 in its side communicatin(r with the chamber 41 and havin(Y the restricted orilice 9in one end.

12 indicates a cylindrical strainer or sieve which is supported at one end on a boss 13 of the fitting 10 and at the other end on a boss 14 of tliebushing 15 into which the inletv pipe 2 is secured. This cylindrical strainer12 isY for the purpose or' straining the water which passes either to the retarding chamber 1 or to the alarm mechanism. A

It will thus be seen that our construction is one wherein the inlet pipe 2 has constant communication with the retarding chamber 1 through the restricted orifice 9 and in which there is a direct passage yfrom the inlet pipe 2 tothe discharge pipe 3 which is separate from rthe retardingchamber 1 and is normally closed by the'valve 5.

A, The retarding chamber is also provided with a drain outlet 1G which is slightly smaller than the restricted orilicc 9 and which leads tov a drain pipe 17 and' this drain outlet is adapted to be closed by a valve 19. The valve 19, however, is normally open and is only closed when the-valve 5 is opened.

It will be understood by those skilled f inthe art that so long as the alarm valve orthe main check valve, if used in combination with the alarm valve, remains closed, the alarm valve will be closed and consequently there will be no Vwater delivered to the inlet pipe 2. If, however, the main check valve is unseated then the alarm valve will also be unseated and water will flow through the check valve and from the alarm valvethrough the pipe 2k vand into the sup- 'ply chamber Z1,and 'from the supply cham` ber through `the restricted orilice 9 into the retardingV chamber, it being remembered that the valve 5 is closed so that no water can flow through the passage leading to the pipe 3. If the unseating of the main valve is temporary'or momentary, such as would .result from water hammer, then the alarm v alve will onlyvbeopened momentarily and a relatively small amount oi:- water will be delivered through the pipe 2. This water will flow through the restricted oriiice 9` into theretarding chamber and from thence will drain out through the drain port 16.

'OnV the other hand if the main valve remains unseated so that there is a continuous flow of water therethrough then the alarm valve will also remain unseated and water will iow continuously through the pipe con#y v nection 2 intothe supply chamber 1 and n from the latter through' the restricted ori- `'fce 9 into thek chamber 1. Since .l the restricted oriiice 9 is larger than the drain chamber 1 and the chamber 7.

port 16, such continuous'ow will result'in `an accumulation of water in the retarding chamber 1. Y

Means are provided whereby the pressure developed by the accumulation ol water in the retarding chamber 1 will open the valve 5 thusv allowing a free flow olf water from the pipe connect-ion 2 direct to the pipe connection 3 ifor the purpose ot operating the alarm.

ybetween the flange 25 at the upper end of the retarding chamber and a head 26 which is clamped `to the flange by bolts 27. 1 The spring 28 which'holds the valve 5 to its Vseat 4is located within the head 26 and is backedV by a cap 29.

As a pressure Vis developed in the chamber 1 by the accumulation of water therein, such pressure acting against the diaphragm 24 will raise the valve. 5 iromits seat thus opening the passage between the pipes 2 and 3. During this opening movement or' `the valve 5. the bellows-like structure 2O will merely expand but will at all times form a separatingv wall betweenthe interiorV of the Means are also provided whereby the drip valve'19 is closed simultaneously with the opening of the valve 5. r1his drip valve 19 comprises'a valve member 19 yieldingly sustained ina valve housing 30,l said VVvalve member being backed by the spring 31. The housing 30 is vertically movable between guides 32 secured tothe bottom of the chamber 1 and it is connected to two levers 33 that are in. turnpivotally connected to the guides 32 rasshown at 34C. The' outer ends of these levers are connected by links 35 to a cross bar 3G which is secured to the kvalve stem 23. When the valve stem 23 is raised by 'pressure against theldiaphragm 2/1'the upward movemest of the yokeor cross bar 36 operates throughthe links 35 and levers 33 to close the valve 19 ontothe valve seat 37 ofthe drip outlet 16.V Thevalve element 19 is so arranged that ity will seat against the Vvalve Vseat 37 before thev ydiaphragm 24;

reaches the upper limit of its movement, but because' of the yielding mounting of the valve member due to the springflthe full movement of the diaphragm is permitted.y

'The closing of the valve member 19 onto *its seat retains the pressure inr the chamber l so as to hold the valve -5 open so `long as theV alarm valve 'is' open.

`After Vthe device has the alarm and the main `valveand alarm valve have again been setl it will be necessary to .drain the chamber V1 so as to put it in condition for operation again. As vsoon v 12a functioned to sound asf the alarm valvey is closed and thefpressure in the chamber 1 is reduced] then the spring 28 will operate automatically to close `thevalve 5 and 'at the same time to open Vthe, drain port 16 thus allowing the water to drain out from the chamber l.

VIn order to assist this draining operation we have provided means for venting the chaniberu to allow air to enter it. Atthe upper part ofthe chamber l is a vent open- 'ing 4l which is normally closed by a ball valve 42 `that is confined Within a cage 43. v .This vent opening-41 communicates by a ,pipe44 with the drain pipe 17. The ball valve 442 normally closes the vent and prevents the escape of water therefrom but" when the chamberlV is being drained then air is allowed to enter Vthrough the drain pipe 17 and through the pipe 44 and vent 4l into the chamber l thus preventing the formation of vacuum therein and hastening the draining operation.

'IVe have shown herein means operated by the diaphragm 24 for closingan electric circuit by which an alarm may be given.

45 indicate `the'wires ofla circuit for operating an alarm, `rsaidwires leading to the.;

terminals 4G of a switch that is closed by a switch .blade 47. This switch blade is secured to the valve stem, the latter extending through the cap 29 for this purpose,

lected embodiment of our invention we desire it to be understood that the invention is not confined to the construction or details shown but may be `varied in various ways within the scope of the appended claims.

l. In a retarding ,device forfre alarm systems, the combination with a4 retarding chamber, of a normally closed passage leading from a source of supply to an alarm mechanism, said passage being separate from the retarding chamber and having a continuously-open but restricted communication with said chamber, and meansoperated by fluid under pressure-in said chamber to open said passage.

2. In a retarding device for sprinkler systems, the combination with aV retarding chamber havinga drain outlet, of a normally-closed passage leading to an alarm mechanism and having a continuously openV but restricted communicationA with said chamber, and means operated by fluid under pressure in the chamber to open said passage and simultaneously close the drain outlet.

3. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a" retarding chamber, of

a supply chamber havinga restricted communication with thefretarding chamber, a

normally-closed 'passage separate .from the retarding chamber and leading from\ the supply chamber toian alarm mechanism,v and .means operated by fluid underpressure in the retarding chamber to open said passage thereby permitting a free flow from the supply chamber directly to the Valarm mechanism.

4. In a device Vofthe class described, the

combination with ai retarding chamberfhavling a'dra-inoutlet, of a supply chamber having a vrestricted communication with theiretarding chamber and also` having commun'icationwitlr an alarinvalve, a` normally-v closed passage leading vfrom the supply chamber directly to an alarm mechanism,

and means operated fluid under pressureV in the retarding chamber to open said P315* sageand to close the drain` outlet. 'i

v5. In a device ofl the classwdescribed, the

combination with a.- retarding chamber, yof a supply chamber situated within the-retard-` ing'chamber and Vhavciiilg a; restricted communication therewith, a normally-closed passage from the supply chamber to an alarm mechanism, said passage being separate from the retarding chamber, and means operatedk by fluid under pressure in said `chamber to open said passage.

6. In a device of the class"described,'the

`.combination with a retarding chamber having a drain outlet, of a supply y chamber within the retarding chamber and having a restricted communication therewith, a passage leading froin said supply. chamber ,di-` rectly to an alarm mechanism, a valve normally closing said passage, and means operated by fluid under pressure insaid retarding chamber to open the valve andsimultaneously close the drain outlet.

' 7*. In a retarding device for sprinkler systems, the combination withg a 'retarding chamber having a drain outlet, of a `norf mally-closed passage leading to an alarm mechanism and having a continuously-open but restricted communication with said chamber, means'poperated by fluid under pressure in the chamber to open said passage and simultaneously close the drain outlet, a vent passage leading from the drain outlet to the topV of the retarding chamber,

and a check valve in said passage.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a retarding chamber, of a passage leading from an alarm valve yto an alarm mechanism, a portion thereof having bellows-like walls, a valve within said portion normally closing the passage, said passage having a continuously-open but restricted communication with the retarding chamber, and means operated by Huid under Apressure insaid chamber1 to open said valve sprinkler system Apassage to `thus allowing free flow of fluid from the alarmv valve to the alarm mechanism.

9. In afdevice of the class described, the combination with aretarding chamber having ahead at one end, a diaphragm at said end'of the chamber which is subjected to thek action of fluid under pressure insaid chamber, a spring `acting against said diaphragm in opposition'tosuchV pressure, a

passageleadingfrom the alarm valve of a to an alarm mechanism and having a restricted communication Ywith said chamber, an alarm circuit and a switch connected to said diaphragm for closing said circuit. Y Y

10.1In a device' of the class described, the combinationwith al retarding chamber, of a Vnormally-cldsed passage separate/from said chamber and leading to an alarm mechamsm whereby fluid flowing through said pass into said chamber, said passage having a continuously-open but restricted communication with said lretardmg chamber, and

means operated by fluid under pressure. in said .chamber to open said passage. v

11.*Ina device of the class described,'thc

the alarm mechanism does notV combination with. a retarding chamber,l of a passage separate from chamberl to an alarm mechanism, a valve normally closingsaid passage, the latterv having a continuously-open but Vrestricted communication with said retarding chamber, and means operated by water accumulating inthe retarding chamber through said restricted communication to opensaid valve.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with a retarding chamber, yof a passage separate from said chamber leading to an alarm mechanism, said passage said chamberlead- `ing from a, source of supply other than the having a continuously-open but restricted I ycommunication with the retarding chamber,

JoRNEnwARD EvANs. ERANcis HERBERT GRiEErrHs.

signed our through n 

